SECOND JUSTICIA AWARDS PRESENTED FOR LEGAL REPORTING

SASKATOON, August 11, 2001 -- The Toronto Star and and CBC's the fifth estate are the winners of the second annual Justicia Awards for Excellence in Journalism.

A special certificate of merit was also awarded to CBC News for its day‑long report on Canada's prisons.

The awards, announced today at the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Annual Conference, are sponsored by the Law Commission of Canada, the CBA, and the federal Department of Justice.

The winner in the print category is the Toronto Star series of articles entitled "Crime and Punishment," by reporters Nick Pron and Donovan Vincent.

The reporters tracked sentences handed out in 107 criminal cases heard in provincial courts in Toronto and evaluated the impact of changes brought about since the Supreme Court of Canada's Askov decision. Their research included a computer analysis of the cases, and more than 150 interviews with prosecutors, defence lawyers, judges, criminologists and even the accused themselves. Their presentation of the justice system told readers how nuanced the issues are surrounding sentencing and plea bargaining.

The Justicia Award jury was impressed by the all-encompassing work that was undertaken to produce a series on the state of the provincial court system. They praised the "thoroughness and realism" of the series and noted the articles "required an investment in time and were specific, interesting and balanced."

In the broadcast category, the winner is The Scandal of the Century, by the CBC's fifth estate. Harvey Cashore was the producer and Howard Goldenthal the associate producer.

In the early 1990's, fourteen adults and two young people in Saskatchewan were charged with sexual abuse of nine children. For the accused it meant shattered reputations and broken lives. The story documented how the justice system failed the innocent people, falsely charged with sexual assault and pedophilia.

The judges said the program was "truly a startling story about the difficulties of crime investigations. Carefully told, the documentary shows the difficulties of determining the facts when children are involved." The jury gave the report top marks for its "comprehensive, all‑encompassing approach, despite the many complexities involved. The report is highly educational. In sum, it was a television reportage on the justice system without equal."

The judges also awarded a certificate of merit to CBC News' Inside Canada's Prisons. Mark Bulgutch and Cynthia Kinch were executive producers.

A team of 23 CBC journalists worked over several months to offer a comprehensive multi‑part series that looks at how prisons work, from intake to parole, balancing the dual mandate of rehabilitation and punishment.

The jury was very impressed by this series that examines the reality of Canada's federal prison system and said it was "all the more exceptional for its scope."

The awards recognize outstanding French or English journalism in print and broadcast media that fosters public awareness and understanding of any aspect of the Canadian justice system and the roles played by institutions and participants in the legal system. The criteria for judging entries are accuracy, effectiveness in explaining legal issues to the public, informational value, insight and originality.

This year's awards cover stories that were published or broadcast between May 16, 2000 and May 15th 2001.

The entries were judged by Justice Anne‑Marie Trahan of the Quebec Superior Court, Wade MacLauchlan, President of the University of Prince Edward Island and Dr. Stuart Adam, Vice‑President (Academic) of Carleton University.

The Justicia Awards are sponsored by the Department of Justice, the Law Commission of Canada and the Canadian Bar Association to acknowledge the important role that media play in enhancing public understanding of the legal system.

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CONTACT:

Hannah Bernstein, Aug. 10-15 CBA Media Centre in Saskatoon at the Saskatoon
Centennial Auditorium, Executive Room, First Floor, (306) 975-7926